Television psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers has passed away at the age of 85 in New York City. The cause of death is not immediately known.
Brothers first gained fame on a game show and went on to publish 15 books and make cameo appearances on popular shows including Happy Days and The Simpsons. She visited Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show nearly 100 times.
For almost four decades, Brothers was a columnist for Good Housekeeping. She also wrote a daily syndicated advice column that appeared in more than 350 newspapers. Briefly, in 1961, she was host of her own television program.
Later, Brothers branched out into film, playing herself in more than a dozen movies, including Analyze That (2002), Beethoven’s 4th (2001), Lover’s Knot (1996) and Dear God (1996).
She wrote numerous advice books, including Ten Days To A Successful Memory(1964), Positive Plus: The Practical Plan for Liking Yourself Better (1995) and Widowed (1992), a guide to dealing with grief written after the death of her husband, Milton Brothers, in 1990.
Brothers is survived by sister Elaine Goldsmith, daughter Lisa Brothers Arbisser, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
